Footwear



Sept. 24, 1929. SHAW 1,729,495

FOOTWEAR I Filed March 14, 1928 FIG.|

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNETED STATES GEORGE STANLEY SHAW, OF NEW BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.

FOOTWEAR Application filed March 14, 1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to footwear and has for its object to provide means for reducing or substantially preventing the splashing of mud and the like by the footwear of pedes- 5 trians upon their clothes.

In accordance with this invention, the heel or sole or both sole and heel of the footwear is provided with o formed of absorbent material designed to absorb liquid or mud. lVith 10 such a construction, water or mud is squeezed out of the pad when pressure is applied there to during walking, and when pressure is released, the water or mud is absorbed by the pad instead of being thrown on to the clothes of the pedestrian or elsewhere.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the following drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention adapted to be attached to a heel of a shoe.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the device applied to the heel. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the pad 1 may be of any suitable absorbentmaterial such spongy rubber or a composition of hair, felt or spongy rubber. I prefer to employ spongy rubber, but it will be obvious that other materials may be employed, the essential requirement being that the material should be pliable and capable of ab sorbing water or mud and expressing it again while withstanding sufficiently well the wear imposed thereon by the action of walking.

The pad 1 is secured in any suitable way as by cementing or moulding to the bottom of a cup shaped portion 2 of sheet rubber or other pliable material. The upper part 3 of the portion 2 is of smaller diameter than the lower part and carries at its upper end a rim or collar 4; of the same material integral therewith.

lVith this construction, the heel 5 of the shoe 6 is fitted into the cup shaped receptacle 2 and the portion 3 and rim 4 fit tightly around the heel and hold the pad 1 in operative position on the shoe.

In operation the pad 1 will be compressed 261,685, and in Great Britain May 11, 1927.

and released alternately at each step taken by the wearer and during this action water and mud will be forced out of the pad when the heel is placed on the ground and drawn in on the heel being lifted. The water and mud when drawn into the pad is prevented from being thrown up on to the clothing of the wearer.

The device just described is readily detachable from the heel and the cup shaped portion 2 may be folded over the pad so as to keep the latter from soiling anything with which it comes in contact, and in this way may be carried in a handbag or other receptacle.

If desired the pad may be secured at its upper surface to a layer of rubber sheeting or other waterproof material to give it support and prevent water passing therethrough to the heel. The pad may be detachably or permanently secured to the heel in any suitable manner. Further, the pad may be built of a covering of fabric enclosing a number of springs which under pressure will force out water and when the pressure is released will draw in any water remaining on the outside of the fabric thus preventing splashing.

The absorbent material may be permanent ly or detachably secured to the heels or soles or both heel and sole of shoes or overshoes while if desired the heel and/or the soles themselves may be made of the absorbent material. The absorbent material may if desired be covered with a suitable fabric for the purpose of increasing the wearing qualities of the material.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A tread member for shoes having a ground contacting portion of porous, compressible material, comprising sponge rubber having an inherent tendency to expand to normal shape adapted to be compressed by the weight of the foot, and adapted, when relieved of the weight of the foot, to expand and absorb moisture with which the tread member may be brought into contact.

2. A tread member for shoes, having a ground contacting portion of sponge rubber adapted to be compressed by the weight of the footand adapted to expand to normal shape when relieved of the Weight of the foot for absorbing Water and mud With which the tread member may be brought into contact.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification at Birmingham, this 27th day of 5 February, 1928.

GEORGE STANLEY SHAW. 

